Updated by Kathryn June 2025.
Historic landlord listing and history timeline:
Licensed from 1848 with unknown name then. Was known as the Star Of The Town in the 1860s, a name which *may* have been inspired by the launch of Marlow's Star of The Thames boat in 1864 - see here
1861 - ? Possibly Charles Belcher, carrier. Nephew of the Johnsons of the nearby Plough. Or is it one of the Judge family?
[1865 - Star Of The Town - Mrs Judge]
[1867 - Star Of The Town - Henry Judge, who is fined for opening his beerhouse on a Sunday despite Mrs Judge's efforts to throw the incriminating pints down into the cellar and out of sight. ]
As the Carriers Arms:
1870 - John & Mary Ann Palmer. John's parents also called John & Mary Palmer lived with them. John the son had previously been coachman to Major Henry Court at Wargrave. John junior was described as a carrier to Wycombe in 1873. In 1870 a poor "tramp" Ann Russell stole a pair of scissors belonging to Mary Ann from the premises and was sent to prison for six weeks as a result. Ann Russell had used the scissors to pay for lodgings at the Bear in Chapel Street. In 1872 a travelling man was charged with obtaining food and beer from Mary Ann under false pretences. The same occured in 1873 when a supper of bacon, potatoes and bread cost 6d plus 2d for a pint of beer.
1881 - John Palmer
1883 - John Palmer
1887 - John Palmer's chickens stolen from the premises.
1888 - John Palmer, also a carrier assisted by his wife Mary Ann. This year Mary Ann refused to buy a box of cigars offered to her by a customer, rightly suspecting them to be stolen.
1889 - H Palmer then Benjamin Hughes
1891 - George B Hughes.
1892 - GB Hughes transferred premises to Thomas Munday. G B Hughes heads to The Plough. See here. He is later at the Black Lion,Well End, Little Marlow See here.
1893/4 - Thomas J Mundy
1895 - Alfred Sarney (see also the Black Horse)
1896 - Alfred Sarney to Mr Sawyer, then to W A Shepherd then to Thomas Richards and finally Edward John Briggs. Difficulties arose from finding proprietor that was acceptable long term licensee to authorities. Such a parade of temporary landlords is quite frequent in Marlow!
1898 - Mr Ware 2. John Foster
1899 - Mr Foster transferred to John Debenham
1907 - John Debenham *Read about John's thwarted plans for his pub's closure and for a replacement in a new location in this post here
1911 -Mrs Lily Debenham, then holdover to Richard George Brant (who is used by brewery often to take over premises for a short time), followed by James Belcher, who had moved from Chairmaker's Arms Dean Street. See here
1912 - Firstly Richard George Brant then later that year Walter Goddard.
1912-21 Walter Goddard.
1915 Sgt Smith of the Carrier's Arms is serving in the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry in Flanders.
1928- ex farmer James Holmes originally from Pewsey, Wiltshire took over.
1932 -James Holmes died of pneumonia following an operation. His widow Ann(e) Holmes takes over.
1934 - Ann Holmes to Alfred Ball
1935 - Alfred George Ball to Phillip Henry Hanks.
1937 - Sidney Juggins
1939 - April of that year. Margaret Juggins. Her husband was serving in the RAF at the time. As he was the one compensated for the forced closure of the pub later that year she looks to have been minding the pub for him while he was thus occupied. *Update - we have confirmed that the landlord from 1937 was Sidney Juggins*
Closed - 1939 / 1940 by authorities to reduce the number of drinking establishments in town. Last landlord Sidney Charles Juggins husband of the above Margaret. The Wethered's brewery did not oppose the forced closure as they said they had enough other premises near by. The old pub was leased for emergency housing in the 40s-50s by the Minister of Housing and Marlow Urban District Council. This ceased c1957 and the owner put it up for sale as a "lucrative" development opportunity. It was demolished late 1961 and Maple Court flats were erected on the site in 1962.
Researched by Kathryn Day and Charlotte Day.
NOTES - Many Marlow landlords switched premises over time and their family members can often be found running other pubs locally too.
Related Posts:
There are posts on this blog about individual families associated with certain pubs, as well as on individual pubs themselves so have a look at the Pub Related index here & don't forget the Person Index for all mentions of someone on this blog. Find it on the top drop down menu. Thousands are listed.
Posts about life in the neighbouring streets here
More beer sellers than bakers -Temperance in Marlow here
Lists of posts about everyday life in old Great Marlow here
SOURCES Include:
South Bucks Standard, 6 January 1893, 8 November 1895, 3 1896, Bucks Herald November 3rd 1888, each copy held at British Library archives, accessed via the BNA
1872 list of Beer Sellers, Old Bucks County Archives
Kelly's Post Office Directory 1883, 1907, 1911
Census 1881, transcription from microfilm by Charlotte Day.
©MarlowAncestors
